Toulouse 2019/20: Analysing why they are struggling this season – scout report

Ligue 1 side Toulouse may not be staying in Ligue 1 next season. They are currently bottom of the table with only 13 points on their hands. They are eight points away from the 19th place and fifteen points away from getting out of relegation zone. They are now winless in 15 matches in a row. Morale is at an all-time low at the moment and unless theres a miracle, its looking more and more unlikely to see Toulouse escape from relegation before the season ends.

This season, Toulouse have already sacked two managers in Alain Casanova and Antoine Kombouaré. At the moment, Denis Zanko is taking over as the caretaker manager, but there doesnt seem to be any significant change at all.

In this tactical analysis/scout report, well take a better look at why Toulouse are struggling this season.

Problems in attack

Toulouse are currently dead last in terms of productivity. They have scored a meagre 21 goals in 25 matches in Ligue 1 so far which is a highly disappointing tally. But judging by the way theyre playing in attack, you can see why theyve only managed to produce few goals.

Toulouse are a team that tend to play from the back and work their way up patiently, mainly exchanging short-medium range passes in the process. They mainly attack through the flanks with both wingers having the tendency to hug the touchline and deliver crosses from inside or outside the box from the byline and both full-backs tending to deliver early crosses whenever they have the ball on the flanks.

Usually, against teams who block central access in the build-up, Toulouses centre-back will immediately play the ball to the nearest full-back. The full-back will then try to combine with the winger on the flank/half-space. Meanwhile, against teams who block access to the flanks in the build-up, Toulouses centre-back will try to play the ball towards their six or one of their eights who drop to receive (if the six is tightly marked or inaccessible). The six or one of the eights will then play the ball to the wide players on the flank or half-space where the winger and the full-back who advanced forward will combine.

What stands out in Toulouses attacking play is their lack of ability to keep the ball in the build-up.

Firstly, for a team that are more possession-based than direct, Toulouse actually have a pretty low average passing accuracy per game with 82% from an average of 442 passes per game. They tend to lose possession due to poor passes and constant miscommunications. Ball-carriers seem to often be unsure where to play the ball to and the teammates around him seem to often be confused where to position themselves/move to. The lack of chemistry in the team seems to be the main cause of this problem. As a result, they are rather prone to losing the ball in their own half (especially against high-pressing and aggressive counter-pressing teams) and are having difficulties working their way into the box.

Secondly, as mentioned before in this tactical